Politics
National Assembly, Ten Years After (II)
Folarin
This is the concluding part of the piece by Senator Teslim Folarin published last Wednesday In the last ten years, the National Assembly has risen to national challenges through legislation of appropriate laws. We have passed a law establishing the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC, to ensure that as a nation, we devote attention and resources for the-development of the Niger Delta. In the same vein, we passed the appropriate laws to put a stop to gas flaring, thereby protecting our environment and health and well-being of our people in the Niger Delta. The law is also to make sure that we broaden the base of our national revenue. We are presently in the process of passing a bill to ensure more local participation in the oil and gas sector. The local content bill, when passed, will guarantee that many aspects of the oil sector have local participation. This law will create more jobs for Nigerians in the sector. It will also mean that Nigerian businesses are more involved in the industry, thereby reducing capital flight in the sector. We have passed laws to bring sanity into the financial sector which was bedeviled by instances of failed banks before the advent of the democratic experiment in 1999. The National Assembly has passed many laws concerning the welfare of Nigerians. Principal among this is the Minimum Wage Amendment bill which paved the way for significant improvement in the take home pay of Nigerian workers. In the bill covering the establishment of a Commission for the control of erosion and desertification, the National Assembly sought to protect the environment as well as the well-being of Nigerians who are victims of these environmental disasters. In the same vein, the National Assembly passed a law for the establishment of a Commission to cater for the interest of communities located in hydro-electricity producing areas. When this democratic dispensation commenced in 1999, corruption was a major crisis confronting the country. We have passed laws establishing the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to check the menace of corruption. There have been new challenges and realities since the enactment of the Acts establishing these commissions as prime agents in the war against corruption. The National Assembly is already in the process of reviewing these laws to take care of these new challenges and realities. A relevant law under the consideration of the National Assembly in the quest to check corruption is the law permitting the state to seize properties suspected to be proceeds of corruption pending the completion of investigation into such cases. In this bill, we can see how the National Assembly responds to challenging challenges of the society. Let me clarify that while many of these bills emanated from the executive arm of government, they nevertheless depend on the legislature to give them the rigour that will grant them the teeth to effectively check the problems they are meant to address. Besides these bills, the National Assembly as a routine entertains motions that address pressing national issues. Through this process, the attention of the executive arm of government is dawn to issues that bother Nigerians. The issues that have regularly featured in our motions include national security, the plight of Nigerians in Diaspora, the state of public infrastructure, the cost of living, happenings in the financial sector and the decay in our educational and health institutions. I wish to state that the executive has found this platform a viable source of knowing the views of Nigerians. The National Assembly also regularly through its Public Petitions Committees listens to petitions from citizens on sundry issues. These over the years have included alleged wrongful dismissal from work, discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, gender, religion or health; and abuse of office by government agencies especially the armedd forces. These issues are considered and investigated by appropriate committees of the National Assembly. Many of such petitions are resolved to the satisfaction of aggrieved citizens. The findings and recommendations of the National Assembly help to improve federal agencies. It is unfortunate this is one of the least reported activities of National Assembly. In the exercise of its oversight function, the National Assembly has drawn attention to many atrocities committed in government. Public hearings by the National Assembly have afforded Nigerians information about their duties. Where such oversight function engagements turn up instances of corruption or mismanagement, the National Assembly has had cause to bring in law enforcement agencies to get public officials to account for their stewardship. One issue over which the National Assembly has been misunderstood is that of Constituency Projects. At a point in the present dispensation, legislators at the federal level felt that government projects are not evenly distributed. As politicians who won election into parliament on the strength of the pledges they made to the electorate, the legislators agitated that they should be involved in the determination of the distribution of such projects. The reason for this is not far-fetched. Our budgetary system leaves initiation of budgetary proposal to the executive. However, the electorates judge the efficiency of a legislator by the number of federal projects he can bring into the constituency. Where legislators are not involved in the distribution of projects, what projects get to his constituency becomes a game of chance. Yet, his worthiness as a representative is based on this. It was against this background that legislators agitated that the budgetary process should involve them in the distribution of government projects. Their role is limited to this. It does not extend to the award of contracts for the project. It is heartwarming that since the commencement of this process, legislators have been able to attract government projects to their constituencies. This dividend of democracy in the local communities is one demonstration of the role of legislators as representatives of their people. I wish to seek the support of the media to help educate the Nigerian public that legislator do not award contracts and they should not be assessed by the number of contracts they can give out. Legislators should instead be assessed by how well they. represent their constituencies in parliament. Conclusion Let me conclude by admitting that the National Assembly is aware that many Nigerians expect more from it. We are aware of the expectations of Nigerians and are committed to meet these expectations. As we celebrate 10 years of democracy, I Make the pledge that the National Assembly will strive to meet these aspirations of Nigerians.
The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has strongly rejected calls by the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria seeking the removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, over comments he allegedly made on genocide.
The Fellowship described the demand as unjustified and a threat to constitutional freedoms.
In a statement signed by its National Secretary, Bishop David Bakare, the PFN insisted that Prof Amupitan, like every Nigerian, has the constitutional right to express his views on matters of national concern, irrespective of the public office he occupies.
According to the PFN, the comments attributed to the INEC Chairman were made in his personal capacity and had no link whatsoever with his official responsibilities or electoral duties.
The Fellowship stressed that elections and electoral activities were not involved in the matter, arguing that there was no basis to connect the alleged comments to Prof Amupitan’s role as INEC Chairman.
“We strongly oppose such calls because Prof. Amupitan, as a Nigerian, has the right to make comments on what he observes to be happening in the nation, regardless of his appointment or assignment,” the statement read.
The PFN said it condemned “in every ramification” the suggestion that the INEC Chairman should be removed from office on the basis of his personal views, warning against attempts to punish public officials for expressing opinions outside the scope of their official duties.
The Tide source reports that the Fellowship also cautioned against what it described as a growing tendency to interpret national issues through religious lenses, noting that such an approach only deepens divisions and undermines peaceful coexistence.
“We must resist the temptation of profiling or judging people based on their religious beliefs or positions. Prof. Amupitan has a right to bear his mind, and this should not be at the cost of his job,” the PFN added.
The PFN called on all stakeholders to exercise restraint, understanding and mutual respect in national discourse, particularly on sensitive issues.
It emphasised that unity and peace must remain paramount in addressing national challenges.
The Fellowship reaffirmed its commitment to fairness, justice and mutual respect, urging that these values guide public engagement and responses to issues affecting the country.
The Special Adviser on Political Affairs to the Rivers State Governor, Dr. Darlington Oji, has disclosed that about 15 Special Advisers to the governor were duly approved by the Rivers State House of Assembly before the current political crisis in the State.
Oji made the disclosure in a Television programme in Port Harcourt, recently, while reacting to issues surrounding appointments, the impeachment moves against the governor and his deputy, and allegations of financial mismanagement.
He clarified that the appointment of Special Advisers was carried out in strict compliance with constitutional provisions, and received the approval of the Rivers State House of Assembly under the leadership of the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, before the crisis began.
According to the Special Adviser, the appointments did not require any further screening, countering claims that the governor violated due process in constituting his advisory team.
On the impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu, Oji described the process as unfounded and lacking constitutional backing.
He said that several lawmakers who initially supported the impeachment move were now reconsidering their stance after discovering that the process had no legal basis.
Oji also attributed the impeachment plot to personal and political ambitions, saying it is not motivated by the interest or welfare of the people of Rivers State.
Speaking on the financial position of the State after the Emergency Rule, the Special Adviser disclosed that the governor met about ?600 billion in the state’s coffers upon assumption of office.
He explained that the availability of funds enabled the administration to continue governance smoothly without the need for a supplementary budget.
The governor’s aide also refuted allegations of financial mismanagement against the governor, and stressed that all allocations to lawmakers and constituency projects were transparently handled.
He maintained that the Fubara administration remained focused on development, stability, and good governance despite the political distractions in the State.
Oji expressed confidence that the impeachment moves would eventually be abandoned as legislators and the public become more informed, adding that the governor’s leadership has continued to reassure citizens and sustain political stability in the State.
King Onunwor
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